FARMINGTON – Nestled in his blue blanket Wednesday, Christopher Lauren Rollins Jr. was oblivious to all the fuss over being the first baby of 2008 at Franklin Memorial Hospital.

The 7-pound, 8-ounce baby made his debut early, said his mother, Sonja Schmitt. She and her fiancé, Christopher Rollins, both of Troy, were expecting him Jan. 10. He was born at 1:49 a.m. Tuesday.

The couple have been preparing to move to Farmington and had been seeing the attending physician, Dr. Jay Naliboff, even though they were living about 45 minutes away, Schmitt said.

They wanted their second child to be born at FMH because Christopher’s paternal grandmother, Sue Dalrymple, works in the radiology department there. Schmitt’s parents and family live in Pennsylvania but were called shortly after the birth, she said.

Older sister, Giavanna, 2, proudly donned a new T-shirt sporting her new title, Big Sister, while preparing for more photos. She was born on Jan. 7, 2006.

“Ecstatic” was the word from Rollins as he proudly commented on the birth of his son.

As Franklin Memorial Hospital’s first baby of 2008, the baby was presented a wagon full of gifts from area merchants. Gifts included a coverall from Calico Patch; a book, “Scaredy Squirrel” from Devaney, Doak & Garrett Booksellers, a red wagon from Franklin Memorial Hospital and a $25 gift certificate from the Franklin Memorial Hospital Gift Shop.

Franklin Savings Bank provided a $100 savings bond, and Hannaford gave the family a $35 gift card. Luce Studio will provide a family session and color portrait.

TD Banknorth gave the new baby a $50 savings bond, and Trask Jewelers provided a feeding spoon while Wal-Mart included a $25 gift card.

Mary O’Donal gave a knit sweater set, and Village Scrappers, a group of quilters from Livermore, created a handmade diaper bag for the child.